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With Root Canal Awareness Week coming upon us this March 22nd-28th, your Portsmouth NH dentist wanted to do their part, and is here today to discuss the benefits and process of this tooth-saving procedure with you, the patient.

Did you know an overwhelming majority of the population, some 70%, fear not only the loss of a tooth, but the procedure of a root canal? Tall tales of the pain endured during root canal therapy are widespread, but on average- not very likely or accurate. The ultimate irony is derived from the fact that the only way to NOT lose a tooth in many circumstances is to give it a root canal, making it one of the most frequently utilized endodontic treatments.

A root canal could be helpful in cases where a patient is in severe pain because of a tooth that has suffered at the hands of substantial decay, repeated procedures on the same tooth, or fault dental work causing cracks. Quite literally at the center of the procedure, and the pain, is a pulp tissue that contains blood vessels and nerves that have become inflamed or infected.

To resolve this pain, the pulp must be removed and the tooth filled. Due to the surrounding tissues being quite nourishing all by themselves, the tooth can continue having a “healthy life” without the pulp present.

For this procedure, the pulp is removed via an opening made in the crown of the tooth. Once all of the infected pulp is eliminated, a thorough cleaning of the cavity of the tooth is performed, then filled and sealed. A permanent crown and filling will be created to give the tooth a natural color and bite, being applied, more than likely, at a follow up visit.

And that is all! Just these few steps and you can keep the natural appearance, sensation and biting force of your natural tooth, compared to replacement of it altogether.

The need for a root canal can only be diagnosed by your Portsmouth NH dentist. Call our office at (603) 436-7787 to make an appointment to address any tooth pain you may be experiencing, today!

Your dentist in Portsmouth NH has treated many patients with gum disease. They know how dangerous gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can be for your oral health. It is important to seek advice from your dentist if you see signs of gum disease.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is inflammation of the gums and is usually caused by plaque and poor dental care. It can progress to the bones supporting your teeth if not treated early. It may be required to have your teeth extracted due to gum disease, and if the disease is at a progressed stage, your teeth may fall out on their own.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

There are many signs that may mean you have gum disease. It is important to take notice of certain symptoms and to see a dentist.

The following are signs that you should look out for:

Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender

Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing

Teeth that look longer because your gums have receded

Gums that have separated, or pulled away, from your teeth, creating a pocket

Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

Pus coming from between your teeth and gums

Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

The earliest occurrence of gum disease is referred to as gingivitis. Typically patients with gingivitis will experience bleeding of the gums after brushing and flossing. At this stage it is still early enough to reverse the damage.

The next stage is referred to as Periodontitis. At this stage the bones supporting the teeth are irreversibly damaged. Pockets may begin to form below the gum line, and food particles and plaque are likely to get trapped in them. It is important to ask your dentist how to prevent your gums from being damaged any further.

If the disease advances past the point of periodontitis, it is referred to as advanced periodontitis. At this stage the fibers and bone supporting the teeth are destroyed which may result in your teeth shifting, loosening, and possibly even falling out.

If you think you may have any form of gum disease, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist in Portsmouth NH by calling (603) 436-7787 to schedule an appointment. The earlier gum disease is discovered and treated, the more of a chance you have of reversing the damage!

Dental plaque is a thin, sticky film made up of bacteria and food particles. These bacteria feed off of sugar and, as a result, produce an acid that attacks the teeth. Continuous acid attacks on the teeth will eventually cause dental decay and other oral health issues.

If you wish to avoid cavities and other dental problems, it is important to do what you can to decrease the amount of plaque on your teeth. Your Portsmouth NH Dentist has a few tips to help you get rid of and avoid dental plaque.

Brushing Regularly.

It is recommended by the ADA that you brush your teeth twice daily, for two minutes each time. Failure to do so can result in a buildup of plaque and tartar.

Tartar is a hardened form of plaque that forms if plaque is left unremoved. Tartar is more a more difficult substance to remove and often patients require a dental cleaning.

Floss Daily.

Your Portsmouth NH Dentist reminds you that it is important to floss daily as well to brush. Unfortunately brushing only removes 65% of the bacteria and plaque/ Flossing will remove the remaining 35%.

Flossing is extremely vital to the health of your teeth and gums. It helps to clean the spaces between your teeth and along the gum lines. Dental floss can reach the places in your mouth that a toothbrush cannot.

Keep Up with Dental Checkups.

Even with careful brushing and flossing you may miss some of the dental plaque. Overtime the plaque will buildup and eventually turn into tartar. It is important to visit your Portsmouth NH Dentist as recommended so that the tartar can be removed.

The ADA recommends visiting your dentist once every 6 months, but some patients may need to go more often than that.

Be sure to keep up with your dental visits. Those who avoid the dentist and neglect the health of their teeth are at an increased risk of getting cavities and losing their teeth!

Eat Fruits and Vegetables

A hydrated mouth is a healthy mouth. Your teeth are at higher risk of decaying if your mouth is dry. Eating fruits and vegetables helps to increase saliva flow and naturally removes some of the plaque an bacteria.

It is better to eat raw fruits and vegetables with the skin on for the best results. Before toothbrushes and toothpaste existed fruits and vegetables acted as nature’s natural toothbrush.

Fight off your Sweet Tooth

Bacteria that make up dental plaque feed off of sugar. Eating and drinking things that are high in sugar helps the bacteria to thrive. Sugary foods and beverages that are soft and sticky are even worse for your teeth.

For more tips on how you can avoid dental plaque, or to schedule an appointment for a checkup with your Portsmouth NH Dentist call (603) 436-7787!

Most people know and understand that our teeth are important. They allow us to perform daily functions successfully, and well, who doesn’t enjoy a bright smile? As a family dentist in Portsmouth NH, Dr. Spivey wants to help to stop the increasing amount of children with dental decay.

Why is dental decay such an alarming disease?

Dental decay affects more than just a child’s smile—it can lead to an early death if left untreated. Unless it is prevented or stopped early on, the damage will be irreversible. If proper actions are not taken soon enough, dental decay can lead to infection of the teeth, gum disease, and eventually even tooth loss.

Children tend to do worse in school when their oral health is not intact. Dental decay can compromise a child’s ability to eat, sleep, and function in their daily lives. It can even undermine their self-esteem and hinder their social development.

What causes dental decay?

There are thousands of different kinds of bacteria that live on the surface of our teeth. These bacteria feed off of sugar and will eat away at our enamel if we do not keep up with brushing and flossing.

As our teeth are continuously attacked by bacteria and acid the enamel begins to weaken and will eventually wear away. This causes our teeth to become weak and eventually a cavity will form. Cavities are permanent damage and require a dentist to repair it with a filling.

How can we help children to avoid cavities?

Your family dentist in Portsmouth NH reminds you to ensure your child is brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. Preventative dentistry can be extremely beneficial and can save your child’s smile from a lot of damage and decay. Be sure to brush, floss, and keep up with dental checkups!

Dental checkups can help your dentist discover any issues early on, and typically at an early stage the damage is reversible.

Another great way to help your child fight off cavities is to ensure they are consuming enough products containing the mineral fluoride. You can purchase water infused with fluoride as well as fluoridated toothpaste.

You can also keep your child on a mouth healthy diet. Try to avoid giving them sticky foods such as candy and even dried fruits. Avoid letting them drink soda and other drinks with high sugar contents, and try to avoid in-between meal snacks.

For more information on how you can help protect your child from tooth decay, or to schedule an appointment with a family dentist in Portsmouth NH, call (603) 436-7787.

As your dentist in Portsmouth NH, we want to ensure that your oral hygiene is at its’ best. It is extremely important to brush your teeth and floss daily, but more importantly, you need to store your toothbrush properly. It’s hard to clean the teeth using something dirty! A clean toothbrush not only helps to clean the teeth, but it can freshen your breath and remove bad bacteria as well.

How do you clean a toothbrush?

You should clean your toothbrush before and after each use by rinsing it off under hot water. This will help to kill and bacteria and germs as well as remove them from the bristles. Run your thumb along the bristles underneath hot running water.

Every so often you can even sanitize your toothbrush using an antibacterial solution. These can be found in drug stores, and typically the toothbrush remains in an antibacterial solution for at least 10 minutes. After it is cleaned off, it is important to place your toothbrush somewhere to dry.

How to store your toothbrush:

Storing your toothbrush is just as important as cleaning it. It is important to store your toothbrush at an upright position (bristles as the top), separate from all other toothbrushes, and at least 2-3 feet away from the toilet. Storing the toothbrush at an upright position ensures that any trapped bacteria and water will drip down.

It is important that your toothbrush be held in an open container with proper ventilation. Storing your toothbrush in a closed container is not clean or sanitary. Your toothbrush needs proper air flow in order for it to dry.

How often should you replace your toothbrush?

The American Dental Association recommends that you get a new toothbrush at least once every 3 to 4 months. It may even need to be replaced sooner than that. If you notice that the bristles on your toothbrush have begun to fray, it’s about that time to get a new one.

Just as important as properly storing a toothbrush is, properly brushing is even more detrimental to your oral health. Visit your Portsmouth NH dentist and ensure that your teeth are as healthy as possible. Ask your doctor if you’ve been flossing and brushing properly. Call (603) 436-7787 to schedule an appointment today!

October is National Hygiene Month! All month long, you’ll be reminded that your teeth are a very important part of your body and that they deserve attention! Nobody understands the important role of healthy teeth better than Portsmouth NH Dentist Dr. James Spivey.

A beautiful smile most likely means great oral health. Have you ever heard the phrase “healthy mouth, healthy you”? It’s true, and it’s backed by scientific evidence! Just a few of the health benefits of a healthy mouth are reduced risk of heart disease, memory preservation, and reduced risk of infection and inflammation in your body.

Beautiful smiles also boost your self-esteem and confidence. Poor oral health can lead to discolored teeth, bad breath, missing teeth, or worse. This can have quite the toll on an individual’s mental and social health. Healthy, beautiful smiles, however, exude confidence and give off the perception that you’re more professional, friendlier, and attractive.

To get the smile of your dreams, it’s critical you remember to:

Brush for 2 minutes, 2 minutes per day

Floss daily

Rinse with mouthwash

Chew sugar-free gum after eating

Get a dental exam/cleaning every 6 months

Brushing and flossing can only get you so far. To ensure your teeth are protected against bacteria and cavities, visit your dentist twice a year. If you are in the Portsmouth NH area, make an appointment with Dr. Spivey by calling (603) 436-7787 or click here.

Everyone gets a toothache at some point or another, and your Portsmouth NH dentist wants to be sure that you understand what is causing your toothache. Toothaches are not always caused by the same thing; however, the most common cause is cavities. If you have a toothache, it is important to see your dentist in Portsmouth NH as soon as possible!

Many people often avoid the dentist, even if they have a toothache! If you have a toothache and it subsides after a short time period, it is still crucial that you visit Dr. James Spivey. Teeth can ache for many different reasons. Usually if you have a dental cavity or decay, the first sign is feeling pain when you eat something sweet, very hot, or very cold.

What are the symptoms of a toothache?

Symptoms of a toothache vary depending on the issue. If you have an abscessed tooth, the first symptom you notice may be pus near the source of the pain. An abscessed tooth occurs when the bone surrounding the teeth is infected. It is extremely important to see you dentist straight away if you think you may have an abscessed tooth.

Pain and pus can also be a sign that you have gum disease. Gum disease typically causes inflammation of the gums, and they often bleed after flossing and brushing. Certain symptoms, especially when occurring together, can be a sign that there is something extremely wrong with your oral mouth. Visit our Portsmouth NH Family Dentist if you have any of the following symptoms:

Fever

Difficulty Breathing or Swallowing

Swelling Around the Area of a Tooth

Pain when you Bite

A Foul-Tasting Discharge

Don’t hesitate to visit your dentist if you think you may have a problem. If you wait to visit Dr. Spivey, your condition can quickly worsen. If you do have a toothache and cannot see your dentist right away, there are a few things you can do:

First, try to schedule an emergency appointment. If you are not able to do so, there are some self-care remedies that can temporarily alleviate the pain:

Rinse with Warm Salt Water

Gently Floss to Dislodge Trapped Particles

Take an Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever

Apply a cold Compress if there has been Trauma to the Tooth

These may help to temporarily relieve the pain, but regardless you should pay a visit to your Portsmouth NH Family Dentist as soon as possible! By visiting your Portsmouth NH Dentist, they can complete an oral exam to determine the location and cause of the toothache.

If you have a toothache, be sure to call (603) 436-7787 to schedule an appointment today. Be sure to mention if you think it may be a dental emergency!